County Program Technician

PLEASE READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS UNDER "HOW TO APPLY" BEFORE YOU BEGIN.This is a non-civil service position with the Powder River County FSA Office in Broadus, Montana.

Responsibilities

This position is responsible for:Carries out office activities and functions pertaining to one or more of the program areas administered in the county.Interpretes and explaining procedures, program regulations and forms to producers and other agency personnel.Utilizes various web-based software applications to maintain producer data and processing automated forms.Uses a high degree of initiative and judgment in planning and carrying out assigned tasks and resolving problems encountered.

Travel Required

Occasional travel

Occasional in state travel may be required.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

07

Job family (Series)

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service Registered or Exempt.Must be a high school graduate or equivalent.Must be 18 years of age or 17 years of age for high school graduatesCompletion of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.Successful completion of one-year probationary period, if required.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND FINGERPRINT CHECK: Selection and retention in this position is contingent upon a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check) and a background investigation.

Qualifications

Qualifications are in accordance with requirements in Handbook 27-PM.Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date in the announcement, including the following specialized experience and/or education, as identified below:You may start at the CO-03 level if you have one of the following qualifications:Successful completion of one year of education above high school in an accredited business, secretarial or technical, junior college, college or university in any field in which high school graduation or the equivalent is a prerequisite may be substituted for experience. ORSix months general experience of progressively responsible clerical, office work, or equal background in the operations of a farm or ranch that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position.You may start at the CO-04 level if you have one of the following qualifications:Successful completion of two years of education above high school in an accredited business, secretarial or technical, junior college, college or university in any field in which high school graduation or the equivalent is a prerequisite may be substituted for experience. OROne year general experience of progressively responsible clerical, office work, or equal background in the operations of a farm or ranch that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position.You may start at the CO-05 level if you have one of the following qualifications:Successful completion of four years of education above high school in an accredited business, secretarial or technical, junior college, college or university in any field in which high school graduation or the equivalent is a prerequisite may be substituted for specialized experience. OROne year specialized experience applying office methods and procedures to provide clerical and limited technical support to any farm or agricultural program.You may start at the CO-06 level if you have one of the following qualifications:One year specialized experience applying office methods and procedures to provide clerical and limited technical support to process and service farm or agricultural programs.You may start at the CO-07 level if you have one of the following qualifications: One year specialized experience applying office methods and procedures to provide clerical and limited technical support to independently perform a full range of farm program processes. Experience that shows your ability to perform progressively more complex, responsible, or difficult duties: and that shows your ability to learn the specific work of this position.

Education

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education at the CO-4 or CO-5 level you must submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume.You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. Please refer to the How to Apply, Alternative Methods for Submitting Your Application Materials section, for instructions on submitting the transcript.Please refer to the "Required Documents" section for further information.NOTE: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Additional information

Veterans preference does not apply.Relocation expenses are not authorized.Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF 306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment.When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.This is a Non-Federal, Non-Civil Service position.E-Verify: Federal law requires agencies to use the E-Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. If you are selected as a newly hired employee, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS E-VERIFY system. Under the system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.This announcement may be used to fill one or more vacancies.Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact: USDAs TARGET Center at (voice and TDD).Optional

This position would be eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements in accordance with Department and Agency directives.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

HOW TO WRITE A KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSA)All applicants will be considered on the basis of their education, experience, supervisory appraisal, training, awards and education as it relates to the qualification requirements and on the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) listed below. There are no special forms for these statements. They may be submitted on plain paper with your name and the announcement number at the top. You should include specific tasks performed, the dates you performed them, and where you were working at the time. KSA statements may not be more than 2 single-spaced pages per KSA.Candidates who do not submit the supplemental statements will not be considered.

Ability to communicate orally and in writing.Ability to identify and resolve problems.Knowledge of FSA Farm Programs and practices.Skill in using computers.Skill in Customer Service.To view the application form, visit:

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance

Drug test required

No

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, your system failure, etc.

Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

Resume that includes: 1)personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; for current or previous Federal or FSA County employees, it should also include the title, Pay Plan, Series and Grade for each work experience entry; 4) supervisors phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.For current or previous Federal or FSA County employees, you must attach a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (form SF-50 or SF-50B) that provides current position, grade level, and duty location. Award SF-50 or SF-50B will result in an ineligible rating.NOTE: THIS IS REQUIRED FOR BOTH PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES.Core Eligibility, Minimum Qualifications, Online Resume and Other documents are required if you are a current or former USDA employee.Narrative KSAsCurrent and former USDA Employees must submit your most recently completed annual performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) which identifies the employees official rating of record, signed by the supervisor, or a statement advising why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating. If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. There are that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from .Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

This job originated on . For the full announcement and to apply, visit . Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at will be considered.

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